The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1887-09-01
A COMMONPLACE HERO.

n. latest throe sheeting 'verytuipg
nv a fall Of sleot the north wind
held its sway, aud tore with bitter
crsts through the storm driven
streets. Steps aud pavements were
traps for the unwary telegraph aud
,a,onhone wires we're down; oven
.tauch poles had been snapped sheer
off between the weight OF the ice
and the force of The wind. Bnt the
ann came out the next morning clear
and bright, flashing in rainbow iints
on a crystal world ; and linemau
Who was out on the roef OF q seven
story building, creeping down to-
vard the caves after refractory
wire, caught the dazzle 10 his eyes,
slipped and fell, but made desper-
ate clutch with his numbed hands at
the cave trough, and hung suspend
cd by that frail support which might
give way any instant beneath his
weight
People in the street below cried
ont as they caught sight Of his peri
lous position.
'Ob, he'll DO down in minute
He can't draw himself up, for see
lis breaking away now
NO, it holds yet. Cau't ee"e-
thing be done for him p
While they gazed upward, dazed
with horror and feeling the utter
helplessness Of any effort to reach
him in time, o second lineman ap-
peared on the roof, sent there, it
would seem, to assist the other. 1t
only required an instant to take in
the situation-the cracking, swaying
cave trough, the desperately grip
ping hands, the sbastly, set face OF
the doomed man, who swung over
that deadly abyss.
Save him Save him came up
from the street below.
Only tho meaning OF the cry
reached the man on tho roof, go loud
and strong was the wind which blew
there, but he answered as If he had
heard il 4:
III try. 'Tain't no dinrrencs to
me il tbs Steve Brady. Maybe an
we'll both go down but l reckon
we've about ekil chances
lie was busy fastening q rope to
the nearest chimney as he spoke. 1t
was not long ropebut it would reach
the edge Of the roof, and he made q
moose in the end Of it. which he
placed around bis body beneath The
arms then taking u coil CT wire
which he carried for repairing pur'
poses from his pouch. ho piled it to
the rope few feet farther mp, and
dropping upon hands and knces,
made his way to the caves.
Hold fast, Steve be called, en-
couragingly 'l'm comm TO help ye.
Hang on till | get turn of tho wire
around you-good Lord man {;
don't you wriggle or you're a gone
one in spite OF me 7
But in the same breath with the
warning there was 8 convulsive ef-
fort on the part OF the suspended
man, the parting cave trough slipped
from his rigid fingers, he was top
pling backward, falling into space ;
the earth, the sky, the face OF the
man above him all blending in one
chaotic picture before his despairing
sight, yet he did not fall ths arm
Of John Herman, who had slipped
like fash over the edge, was about
him holding him up, while he ed
jured
Get a hold, for Gods sake II
you vally your life and mine keep
your wit about you, Steve Brady
Now, then, climb up the rope. I'LL
bear the strain, / think, and you Can
get on the roof from my shoulders
Steady; So
There was moment of suspense
The strands of the straining rope
we're cutting on the edge Of the
states, but the wire which John had
piled to il higher up divided th'
weight and enabled first the one
then the other to climb to the roof
They stood there painting with ex'
ertion, looking into each other
eyes. Then
i own..my life to you, said Bradl
but I wish didn't. l wish IL
dropped down into the street efor'
I owed IL to you
Thd cause Of the enmity between
them? The usual cause--only